Enhancement leads to reduced phone calls, improved service

SAN DIEGO, CA - FurnishNet today announced that it has enhanced its transaction management solution by integrating with MGM Transport, the industry's leading carrier for furniture transport and logistics, for online shipment tracking. With this new feature, connected manufacturers can now send a tracking number along with their acknowledgements for all orders shipped through MGM, and FurnishNet automatically sends that information and a hotlink to retailers, giving them the tools to track their orders online and in real time. By adding this feature, FurnishNet improves communication between trading partners, reduces phone calls to check shipment status, and enables more efficient merchandise receiving for better overall service.

"Ultimately, we're giving retailers the ability to provide a higher degree of service to customers," said Edward Massood, President of MGM Transport. "By providing a detailed report of a shipment status, we can answer when an order was picked up, where it is in the cycle, and who signed for the merchandise on what date. We're taking the burden off the vendors by answering these questions, and making it easy for the retailers to be proactive with their customers."

Now when a manufacturer enters FurnishNet to confirm that an order has been shipped, the manufacturer can enter the tracking number for MGM Transport. When the retailer receives the advance ship notice, the retailer can click on that number to access MGMTransport.com and track where their order is in the cycle. All orders all accessible 24 hours a day though a secure site, and are updated in real time. By accessing this information, retailers can anticipate the receipt of new merchandise for improved operational efficiency on the back end, and also plan for the delivery of merchandise for improved customer service.

"MGM Transport has built a very sophisticated back office system that helps retailers get merchandise from their vendors faster, and information on their orders quicker," said Ron Sellers, FurnishNet's Vice President of Sales. "By integrating with MGM as part of our acknowledgement/ASN process, we're enabling retailers to check on their orders without having to access a new website or place a phone call. That's a tremendous time-savings benefit."

Based in High Point, N.C., MGM Transport is the leading transportation service in the furnishings industry. MGM offers 24-hour access to information on shipments and contents, plus expert guidance on how to use that information to better serve customers and improve business. With a fleet of 230 tractors and 710 Great Dane trailers, the $40 million company serves two-thirds of the home furnishings retailers on the East Coast and two-thirds of home furnishings manufacturers nationwide. Customers include Thomasville Furniture, Stanley, Bassett, Federated Department Stores, Carson Pirie Scott, Baker Furniture of Dallas, Raymour & Flanigan Furniture, and Thomasville Home Furnishings of Arizona.

About FurnishNet
FurnishNet, a wholly owned subsidiary of GERS, provides Internet-based supply chain solutions for retailers, manufacturers, and suppliers in the home furnishings industry. FurnishNet offerings include parts management and transaction management solutions that streamline processes, eliminate waste, enhance operations, and improve consumer satisfaction. Leveraging GERS Retail Systems' 28 years of experience in the home furnishings industry, FurnishNet is well positioned to offer solutions tailored to the business needs of the trade. For more information, visit www.furnishnet.com.